Retired pastor ministers to inmates

Friday

Mar 8, 2013 at 10:25 AMMar 8, 2013 at 10:25 AM

By Andy Barrand?

andy.barrand@hillsdale.net?HILLSDALE — Despite retiring as pastor of Banker’s Baptist Church in 2000, Pastor Harvey Thomas is still ministering to those who are in need.?At the age of 80 Thomas ministers to inmates at the Hillsdale County Jail once a week — something he has been doing since coming to Hillsdale County in 1989. In 1989 Thomas became pastor of Banker’s Baptist Church and was asked to minister to inmates at the jail.?Thomas said he began working with jail inmates in western Pennsylvania before coming to Hillsdale. It was during his final years at the church in Pennsylvania that he began thinking about his next mission in life.?“God kept me there to prepare me for what I was supposed to do here in Hillsdale,” he said.?The year before coming to Hillsdale Thomas worked with inmates at the jail in Pennsylvania.?After 24 years of ministering to inmates Thomas has heard a wide variety of stories. Those stories, artwork and poetry are all parts of a new book Thomas has written, “Exist in Darkness; Live in the Light.” The book is a sequel to his first book, “Key to Freedom From Captivity.”?The book is filled with artwork, poetry and stories from inmates he has worked with over the years. In one of the sections of the book Thomas uses short excerpts to describe the different people he has met.?“There is some good artwork in the book,” he said. “I couldn’t let it go.”?Thomas said several of the men he works with were thrilled to have their work published in the book.?To protect the identities of those inmates he ministers to, Thomas didn’t use any of their names in the book.?During his weekly visits he meets with inmates on a one to one basis, which helps to open the lines of communication, he said.?It is that trust he has built with the inmates that has allowed them to share some of their most intimate feelings and worries.?“They just need someone who will listen to them,” Thomas said. “They look forward to me coming. ?“They miss me when I don’t show up," he added. "The biggest part of any ministry is listening. To be able to help someone you have to listen to them.”?While ministering to a youth one time he spent several hours behind bars. Thomas and the youth were behind bars because the youth was kept separate from the general jail population.?Thomas said the guards had forgotten about him. Those four hours, however, were really worthwhile for both Thomas and the youth, who later in life went on to own his own company.?Over the years Thomas has kept in contact with several of the inmates he has ministered to. Some of them have even done work for him around his house.?“I wouldn’t be doing this unless I loved it,” he said. “I will continue to do it until I can’t anymore. It makes me feel good when I leave the jail.”?Thomas’s second book, “Pastors Are People Too; Pastoral Life Experiences” was written in 2011. The book is about Thomas's life as a pastor.?He said the life of a pastor is not much different than that of most people — they have the same joys, heartaches, difficulties and opportunities, making their life more meaningful, exciting and adventurous.?Thomas has copies of both of his books available. They are also available on Ebook, and from the publisher AuthorHouse. Anyone interested in purchasing a book can contact Thomas at 437-0572.